Easton Area High School students raising money for well in Africa

The heart of Africa may be about as far from Easton as you can get and still be on the same planet.

But some Easton Area High School students are deeply aware of the issues affecting poverty-stricken regions of the continent, so members of the Red Rovers Club created the Keep Africa Well project.

“Without water, civilization is not possible,” said project co-founder and student Natalie Constantine. “We’re just trying to get the basic necessities out there.”

Constantine, Claire Huang and other Red Rover students are trying to raise $6,500 to build a well in a region of Africa to be selected once the students raise the money.

While Keep Africa Well is the brainchild of Constantine, Huang and others, they got the idea from science teacher Michael Welsh, who spent time in Tanzania when he was younger.

Students took their idea last month to Tracy Elementary School, which many of the Red Rovers attended. Within a week, the elementary school students helped Keep Africa Well raise $1,116.29 in coins.

“The exciting piece about this is to hear high school students giving back to the elementary school students,” said Tracy Elementary School Principal Bob Steckel.

Steckel was delighted by games and parties the high school students organized for the two classrooms that raised the most funds. Those two classes were a first-grade class taught by Kristine Mihalik and a second-grade class taught by Lori Miller, Steckel said.

Constantine and the other Red Rovers plan to have another coin drive at Paxinosa Elementary School at the end of April, Constantine said.

Constantine and Huang will coordinate with The Water Project, an international nonprofit that will use the money they raise to pay for equipment and workers to build a well in a region the students will select.

“It can last up to 20 years if it’s maintained over time,” Constantine said.

Constantine said the Red Rovers will receive videos of the well as it’s being built. They will also get videos of the finished product.

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HOW TO HELP

To donate to the Keep Africa Well project, send a check to the Red Rovers Club, 2601 William Penn Hwy, Easton, Pa., 18045. Cash can also be donated April 21 at the Palmer Park Mall community day. Organizers also hope for a car wash in May.